This $300k Defender Build Aims to Redefine What ‘Bespoke Luxury’ Really Means

While the custom Defender market has become saturated with builders promising “bespoke luxury,” David Lane’s Oshe Automotive is taking a different approach entirely. The Northamptonshire-based company’s latest creation, the Zambezi Defender, isn’t just another restomod throwing a big engine into a classic chassis — it’s a cultural bridge between Lane’s South African upbringing and British craftsmanship, wrapped in a 3,000-hour build process that strips a Defender 110 down to bare metal and reconstructs it as something completely new.

Thunderous Origins

Oshe takes its name from the African god of thunder, which starts to make sense once you understand Lane’s background. Growing up on a South African game reserve where his family relied on rugged Land Rovers for daily survival, Lane’s mechanical education began with restoring a Series 2A Land Rover. That early experience evolved into a vision for vehicles that honor both the functional heritage of African utility vehicles and the refined craftsmanship expectations of modern luxury builds.

The Zambezi — named after one of Africa’s major rivers like all Oshe variants — is the pickup iteration of this philosophy. Where other builders focus purely on performance upgrades or interior luxury, Oshe integrates African cultural elements directly into the build process. Each Zambezi features hand-painted Ndebele artwork on the control plate, created by resident artist Anna Selomo at Oshe’s Limpopo reserve. African woods like Acacia and Zebrano appear throughout the cabin, creating textures and warmth you won’t find in typical British luxury restomods.

Engineering As Artistry

The foundation remains a classic Defender 110 chassis, but everything else gets completely reimagined. Oshe strips away the utilitarian factory aesthetic — no visible rivets, seams, or panel holes — replacing it with clean bodywork that maintains the original silhouette while feeling substantially more refined. The 6.2-liter V8 engine paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission provides the kind of torque and soundtrack that justifies the extensive chassis work, while Tractive electronically controlled suspension and AP Racing brakes bring the stopping and handling performance into modern territory.

The interior balances luxury elements with functional design, from heated Muirhead leather bucket seats to Alcantara headliner to the panoramic roof, creating a premium environment. There’s even an Audison and Morel sound system to match the visual craftsmanship. But it’s the cultural details that separate this from generic luxury treatments, like the African wood steering wheel, the hand-painted artwork, and the careful integration of heritage elements.

Bespoke by Design

No two Zambezi builds will be identical, which is the point. Buyers can choose between pickup and station wagon configurations, soft-top or hard-top roofs, and an extensive palette of paint colors, leather options, and trim combinations. Oshe also offers both 5.3-liter and 6.2-liter V8 options for the buyer to choose from.

This level of customization elevates the Zambezi beyond typical restomod territory into true bespoke vehicle territory. When combined with Oshe’s limited production capacity — they can only complete a handful of builds annually given the 3,000-hour construction process — each Zambezi becomes exclusive rather than just expensive.

Spec Sheet

Pricing & Availability

The Zambezi is priced starting at around £220,000 (~$300,000). Interested buyers can work directly with Oshe to configure their specific build requirements and delivery timeline.

Recap

Oshe Zambezi Defender 110 Restomod

Oshe’s $300k Zambezi is abespoke restomod that transforms a Defender 110 chassis into a cultural bridge between African heritage and British craftsmanship, featuring hand-painted Ndebele artwork, African woods, and a 6.2-liter V8 engine built over 3,000 hours.

Learn More: Oshe